Abolition: Politics, Practices, Promises, Vol. 1

by Angela Y. Davis, Unknown Author

A major collection of essays and interviews from pioneering freedom fighter Angela Y. Davis

For over fifty years, Angela Y. Davis has been at the forefront of collective movements for abolition and feminism and the fight against state violence and oppression. Politics, Practices, Promises , the first of two important new volumes, brings together an essential collection of Davis’s essays, conversations, and interviews over the years, showing how her thinking has sharpened and evolved even as she has remained uncompromising in her commitment to collective liberation. In pieces that address the history of abolitionist practice and thought in the United States and globally, the unique contributions of women to abolitionist struggles, and stories and lessons of organizing inside and beyond the prison walls, Davis is always curious, always incisive, and always learning.

Rich and rewarding, Politics, Practices, Promises will appeal to fans of Davis, to students and scholars reflecting on her life and work, and to readers new to feminism, abolition, and struggles for liberation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Social Justice, Politics, Feminism, Essays, History, Theory

Paperback

About the author

Angela Yvonne Davis is an American political activist, scholar, and author. She emerged as a nationally prominent activist and radical in the 1960s, as a leader of the Communist Party USA, and had close relations with the Black Panther Party through her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement despite never being an official member of the party. Prisoner rights have been among her continuing interests; she is the founder of Critical Resistance, an organization working to abolish the prison-industrial complex. She is a retired professor with the History of Consciousness Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and is the former director of the university's Feminist Studies department.

Her research interests are in feminism, African American studies, critical theory, Marxism, popular music, social consciousness, and the philosophy and history of punishment and prisons. Her membership in the Communist Party led to Ronald Reagan's request in 1969 to have her barred from teaching at any university in the State of California. She was tried and acquitted of suspected involvement in the Soledad brothers' August 1970 abduction and murder of Judge Harold Haley in Marin County, California. She was twice a candidate for Vice President on the Communist Party USA ticket during the 1980s.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d read Angela Davis’ shopping list

[Brennen Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It can be difficult to really understand and appreciate abolitionist theory. Getting over the mental hurdle that is, “how would society function without prisons?” becomes very easy after reading Angela Davis. Instead of that thinking, your brain starts to think of it like “how does our society allow prisons to exist in if we claim to be a fair and free?” We are led to believe that sending people to prison will eventually rehabilitate them and send them back out into the world as better people. But that doesn’t happen. Prisons are designed to keep people coming back, like customers in a Walmart. The prison industrial complex generates far too much profit for it to be doing anybody any true good. Recidivism is exactly what capitalism desires.

If prisons must exist, they should be only to hold the people convicted of the most heinous of crimes, such as those against children. The number of prison needed for that would be minuscule compared the mega industry it has become today. There are simply way too many people wasting away for crimes that harmed nobody except capital, or for drug offenses that shouldn’t be criminalized in the first place.

Davis makes clear that the prison industrial complex is designed to target people based on sex, gender, race, and sexuality. People of color and women being so highly represented in the prisoner system is not an accident. It is also these same groups of people that face the highest amount of abuse once in prison. Especially for women, who have to deal with the added pressure of being harassed and abused. If you are sending someone to prison, that should be their punishment, they shouldn’t have to then be tortured, harassed, and humiliated, along with losing all of their rights as a human being.

“Prisons do not disappear problems, they disappear human beings”

[Corie Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "Abolition Politics: Practice, Promise, Volume 1," Angela Y. Davis offers a profound and transformative exploration of the abolition movement, extending far beyond the conventional discourse. Davis, a renowned scholar and activist, brings her wealth of experience and insight to this critical and timely subject, challenging readers to reimagine the frameworks of justice and equality in our society.

This first volume lays a comprehensive foundation for understanding the historical and contemporary dimensions of abolitionist thought. Davis skillfully navigates through the complexities of the prison-industrial complex, systemic racism, and the intersectionality of social justice struggles. Her arguments for the abolition of oppressive systems are not only deeply researched but also imbued with a sense of urgency and moral clarity.

What makes this book particularly compelling is Davis' ability to intertwine theory with practice. She doesn't just present an idea; she illustrates its implementation and potential impact through real-world examples and stories of resistance and resilience. This approach not only educates but also inspires, providing a blueprint for activism and social change.

"Abolition Politics" is more than an academic text; it's a call to action. Davis challenges the reader to question their own perceptions and to recognize the role they can play in the broader movement towards a more just and equitable world. Her writing is both accessible and intellectually rigorous, making this book a valuable resource for activists, students, and anyone interested in social justice.

In summary, Angela Y. Davis' "Abolition Politics: Practice, Promise, Volume 1" is a seminal work that pushes the boundaries of traditional thought on abolitionism. It's a book that not only informs but also empowers, urging a collective rethinking of the structures that govern our lives. A must-read for those committed to understanding and enacting real change in our society.

[Victoria Law · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to the audio version (read by Angela Davis herself!) over different periods of time. The last section—about her research in women’s carceral facilities in California & the Netherlands—was fascinating.

[Tara Sterreveld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angela Davis continues to deliver.
A collection of essays on abolition compiled following the George Floyd protests, and in part as response to the growing right-wing sentiment across the globe, these essays offer profound insight into the racial and gendered discrimination inherent in the prison industrial complex.
I love how Davis’ writing is at once extremely informative and engaging, and accessible. This is, I think, a very important addition to her body of literature on abolition, and a great resource for readers (myself included) who have been maintaining some level of interest in abolitionism, but haven’t necessarily been prioritising it as much as the other human rights violations across the globe that continue to occur. Personally, this has really helped me refocus on the abolition elements of my human rights interest and desire to be more active - and on my own goals in eventually working in law and politics in the human rights sphere.
There’s so much more to say about the way the issue of prison as punishment continues to perpetuate that which it claims to address, and the ways in which the work can be used in anti-war socialist activism, but I’m not as good with my words as Angela, so i’ll just say read this book!!!!
10/10 would definitely recommend, I love this woman

[Solomon Yeoh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Angela Davis is really good at explaining ideas using clear, concise language. this collection of essays is a great introduction to the ideas of prison abolition and the intersection of race, gender and class when it comes to incarceration. nothing new is presented in these essays but fascinating reading nonetheless. i thought the final 2 studies done by Angela and Kum Kum Bhavnani which discuss the different approaches to female incarceration in the Netherlands, Cuba and the United States was the best part of the book, presenting an illuminating insight to women’s prisons.

[Brenda Alvarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked it alot!
Recidivism is primarily what capitalism desires, and the prison industrial complex generates far too much profit to be a viable rehabilitation system. Instead the people convicted for heinous crimes are shelled with people whose crimes harm nobody expect capital, or for drug offenses.
Davis makes clear that the prison industrial complex is designed to target people based on sex, gender, race, and sexuality. People of color and women face the highest amount of abuse once in prison, especially women who deal with the added pressure of being harassed and abused. Sending someone to prison should be their punishment, they shouldn’t have to be tortured, harassed, and humiliated, along with losing their rights as a human being.

[Des · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening, especially on the history of prisons. I really liked the few chapters of the end detailing research into women’s prisons in the US, Cuba and more incisively, the Netherlands.

[anaeliteratura · Rating 4 out of 5]

i believe that everyone should read angela y. davis.

[Jacie Minnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always admired Angela Davis. Her work has been revolutionary in shaping the fight for abolition, and she’s been a guiding light for those of us striving to imagine a world beyond prisons and systemic oppression. That’s why I was so eager to dive into Abolition Vol. 1: Politics, Practices, and Promises. I thought it would be groundbreaking—something that would push the movement forward in bold, new ways. But instead, I was left feeling disappointed and, honestly, let down.

The book felt like a repetition of what we already know—historic injustices, frameworks, and traumas that have been discussed extensively in abolitionist spaces. These are important conversations, but they aren’t new. With a title like Abolition Vol. 1, I expected something revolutionary—practical solutions, fresh insights, or even a daring reimagining of what abolition could look like in today’s world. Instead, much of the book relied on outdated data from the 90s, 2000s, and 2010s, and the big takeaways felt frustratingly limited.

One suggestion was to look at prison models in the Netherlands, like open and half-open facilities. Another was to appeal to human rights as a way to foster empathy in America. But these ideas felt tone-deaf given the realities of 2024, especially with the war on Gaza and the ongoing struggle for Palestinian liberation. Davis herself has written powerfully about the links between the prison-industrial complex, the military-industrial complex, and global racial oppression in the past. But here, those connections felt muted or ignored altogether.

Even the writing felt uncharacteristically flat. Words like “recapitulate” were used so often that it was hard not to notice, making the book feel stretched, like it was trying to hit a word count rather than deliver something impactful.

I don’t expect Angela Davis—or anyone, really—to have all the answers. But with a title like Abolition Vol. 1: Politics, Practices, and Promises, I hoped for something more. Something visionary. Something that felt like a roadmap to the future, rather than a recap of the past.

I still deeply respect Angela Davis and all that she’s contributed to this movement. She’s a giant in abolitionist thought, and her work has inspired countless people, including me. But this book didn’t meet the moment. It felt like a missed opportunity at a time when we desperately need bold, revolutionary ideas to guide us forward.

I hope future volumes in this series will provide the innovative, actionable ideas that this volume lacked. Angela Davis has always challenged us to imagine better futures, and I believe she still has the capacity to push us toward that vision in transformative ways.

[Zara Chauvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Davis and her writing immensely — feeling very bad for giving such a low rating to this book. Unfortunately, I found it very underwhelming.

Essays were very very repetitive, including the same sources and extended quotes in several essays back to back, which is kind of just a waste of time and space in a bound collection.

A lot of the arguments were built on specific studies and data, which is now 20-30 years out of date (these seem to all be written in the 90’s), like calling out specific companies and corporations and statistics and ratios — which are all kind of irrelevant now (in their specificity), like some of the corporations don’t even exist anymore. Wish it had this same analysis built on up-to-date sources!

Since it’s so out of date, it also misses out on some great contemporary points that should really have been discussed. E.g.:
- Discusses medical neglect and spread of infectious diseases in prisons, without mention of the COVID pandemic.
- Discussed female prisoners reproductive rights, without the overturning or Roe v Wade.
- Discusses the criminalisation and challenges of immigrants… without anything from the 2000’s to now….
Etc etc.

Pity this book wasn’t released back when these essays were written.

The book also (almost comically) didn’t look at the actual abolition movement or any theories of abolition and alternative/restorative practices in any deep way. It just identified and described the problems (historical and modern) of the carceral justice system. Was really looking forward to a more forward-focus, which I think is the more challenging and interesting content of abolition writing.

Hopefully volume 2 (whenever it will be released) is set to fill the glaring gaps left by this volume?

I am hopeful.

******If you haven’t really read anything about prison abolitionism before, I do highly recommend this book. It’s a good introductory book to give you the basic ideas of why abolitionism is logical / necessary / important.

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angela Davis, an American icon.

My very first introduction to the concept of prison abolition came from an online bookclub that I heard about on Twitter. We read Are Prisons Obsolete? by Davis and it blew my mind. It is a short book, a but over 100 pages, and it sums up the history of prisons, then asks, "If prisons did not always exist, should they always continue to exist? In light of our evolving understanding of humane justice, should we not evolve the way justice is enacted?" I honestly had no idea about any of it, and my ignorance was very much by design.

This book, Abolition, is a collection of essays and speeches over the years. The main argument here is that modern prisons in America are a direct descendent of slavery and have little to do with bringing justice to the community or "reforming" criminals. Critics questioned their effectiveness even before their initiation, and there has been no accountability from the state in the face of overwhelming evidence that prisons are a failure at their stated aims.

The nature of the book means that it is repetitive; reading it straight through kind of gave me a de ja vu feeling. Davis is a powerful writer and able to wrap stories and facts together in a captivating way, and I am glad this book exists. The audiobook is a gift that she reads herself. That said, I wouldn't recommend this book as a starting point just because it isn't structured like a typical book. I would love to see an adapted version with updated stats though! It probably already exists.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this 2024 compilation of Angela Davis essays and other writings from between about 1995 to 2002, she discusses the evolution of the 'prison industrial complex' in the USA and the broader points of how society defines and deals with criminality. As the title suggests, she writes from the viewpoint of someone who opposes carceral systems. Inevitably, a lot of material in these essays is repeated as each essay describes the historical context for how we got to where we are today (i.e. early C21st). This is not a bad thing as it helps to reinforce the basic points. By far the most impactful part of the book is the 5th and final section, based on a fieldwork study conducted in partnership with Kum-Kum Bhavnani, drawing on the testimony of female prisoners in San Francisco County Jail #7 and Amerswiel, Heerhugowaard in the Netherlands. The contrast is stark, juxtaposing a system that is abusive by design and based on racist, sexist, homophobic & classist assumptions - with a rehabilitative institution that is predicated on respect for human rights (although still retaining elements of racist, sexist, etc assumptions). Given the hegemony of US fascism across the Western world today, this provides a depressing reminder of how institutional respect for human dignity can be a positive and powerful force, but is being thwarted at every turn.
Where this book fails is in painting a picture of how we might deal with criminality post-abolition. Nevertherless, I am sure any writing that directly advocated for abolition would do well to source this book to make its case.

[Samuel Malcolm-Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly informative and eye-opening material.

There were 3 points of interest as I read through:

1. In the first sections which trace a genealogical movement from the system of slavery, to the system of convict leasing, to the modern/contemporary prison system.
2. From there, a focus on the way in which the contemporary prison system not only generates cycles, but structurally reinforces a dependence on poverty, constructed criminal categories—or "discursive formations", as Foucault would call it—which often obscure the social and economic contexts which lead to certain—some, not all—criminal behaviours, and exploitation to justify for shareholders and GDP their own continuation as prisons and also as sources of cheap labour on par with "Third World" or systematically exploited/underdeveloped countries. This part was truly shocking.
3. Thought it was done? Not quite. Further, Davis’ focus on the negative, intersectional impact of the prison system on women—particularly the double movement of private-/public-sanctioned violence which obscures the depth of maltreatment in spite of officially "low" statistical results concerning women subject to state punishment—is equally as informative and shocking. It refreshes the purpose of a feminism in today’s world.

With that being said, the material can be quite repetitive, and sometimes it feels like it’s labouring the point somewhat. But that is taken from a purely literary standpoint, not to diminish the urgency of Davis’ call for prison reductionism/abolition.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Of course, the enemy within is far more dangerous than the enemy without, and a Black enemy within the most dangerous of all.
Because of the tendency to view it as an abstract site into which all manner of undesirables are deposited, the prison is the perfect site for the simultaneous production and concealment of racism. The abstract character of the public perception of prisons militates against an engagement with the real issues afflicting the communities from which prisoners are drawn in such disproportionate numbers.

The concept of the prison industrial complex … attempts to capture not only the phenomenal expansion of prisons and jails and the enormous increase in the numbers of people of color subject to the surveillance and supervision of the criminal justice system, but also the increasingly symbiotic relationship between the corporate structure and the prison industry, the relationship between corrections and economic vitality in many communities, and the mounting political influence of the correctional community.”



Once we understand the prison industrial complex as the production/reproduction of violence, we might begin to dream of better for ourselves

[Maya Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because of the shockingly low number of reviews for this book, I feel compelled to write my thoughts . Angela Davis is a controversial author and political activist, most notably for her involvement in the Communist party and the Soledad brothers case (which if you do not know much about, I highly recommend researching). I will say firstly that I do not agree with her economic views and many of her ideas are more progressive than I would support in practice. However, her writing on feminism, race, prisons, and more social problems I find to be immensely well written and powerfully argued. This is a great example of good faith well developed academic writing. I have read a decent amount of philosophical theory about the prison industrial complex, inherit racism, and moral arguments against prisons but I have found this book to contain some of the best developed arguments. Perhaps overshadowed by her older work Are Prisons Obsolete?, this book does not seem to have found the same public recognition as other books, but I would highly recommend to those interested in prison theory.

[Whitman Cler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how the book opens with a radical essay in which Davis contends that prisons are necessary for maintaining the legitimacy of US-style democracy (for the experience of incarceration is the experience of losing civil rights for supposedly breaking the social contract). She advocates for abolishing prisons and reconceptualizing democracy in a human rights framework. I appreciated how she emphasized that race, class, and gender are determining factors in who is criminalized and how they are disciplined and controlled. I learned a lot about the psychological techniques of control that prisons deploy against women. Davis emphasized the “recognition of women prisoners as autonomous human beings, not only as social victims” (p. 201).

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The newest collection of essays and speeches by the queen herself. This book compiles so many incredibly thoughtful arguments and reflections with lots of nods to Foucault. This is a super important but super heavy topic and I got especially choked up when reading about dangerous and even life threatening conditions that result from the lack of women’s healthcare services in US prisons described about two thirds of the way into the book. In summary, if you’re not reading Angela Davis, literally what are you doing????

[Carley Sands · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book displays how the prison system (specifically in the US) is basically just slavery in a different format, where instead of serving a single master, the prisoner is serving the government. This is more so considering majority of prisoners are of African American decent. Ms Davis displays how capitalism, racism and classism intertwine in the prison system and how it serves to create more capital for the government rather than rehabilitate these prisoners.
An excellent read and has opened my eyes to the reality of the prison system.

[Ryan O'Malley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed compilation of the horrors of prison and the prison industrial complex, and particularly how it affects minorities and women. The part I found most fascinating was the history of prisons that Davis puts forth. One place I thought the book could have expanded is what abolition would actually look like. The closest comparison they made was to the Dutch system which they made clear they are not endorsing. Perhaps that will come in the next volume.

[Ana Mendes · Rating 5 out of 5]

While reading this book, it came scenes of Orange is the new Black, it’s clearly the way they treat immigrants women’s and it’s frustrated. Talking about the last episode I really can say that am shocked about how prisons is different each country’s, I mean the American one is inhumane compared to Europe for exemple, specifically Holland, Switzerland,….

It wasn’t easy to be a black person before, but being a black woman it was horrible.

[Sarah]

I think that the main issue I had with this audiobook is that it comes across as rather outdated since a lot of the sources cited were from the 1990s and this book was published in 2024.
It also got a bit repetitive at times, which is somewhat expected since it is a collection of essays on a theme/issue but sometimes it was hard for me to tell when one finished and another started.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

What stands out most about prison, even beyond the human rights abuse, is its ineffectiveness in combating crime or preventing recidivism. Prison fails to address the social conditions that lead people to commit crimes in the first place.

[Pleuni Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved! Really interesting and great introduction to abolitionist thought. Would have loved more info on alternatives, but maybe the next volumes will get into that more? Nonetheless, a very informative and important read!

[Shubh Thakkar · Rating 5 out of 5]

SHE NEVER MISSES!

[Stacey]

Angela Davis forever.

[Another Old Man Historian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great arguments, great thought provoking leading towards potential change. I wonder how, especially the prison system, would take that step to change. It did get a bit monotonous towards the end.

[Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal as always

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly important collection of essays from one of the best scholars on abolition.

[Ghizal · Rating 5 out of 5]

phenomenal